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Page 461
time for the wedding. He stayed the full guesting period there."
"Very well, did he say to them where he would ride?"
"No, lady, but he took the south roadthat was seen, and I followed. They rode quickly. I could not come up with them, but there was sufficient word of their passage, and Lord Ian stayed one night at Caergwrle in good spirits. I baited my horse there and followed again to Powys."
"Powys? Was Lord Gwenwynwyn at the keep?"
"Not when I came, lady, but he had left only that morning, just after Lord Ian rode out. The master-at-arms told me that Lord Ian had again taken the south road and that he had said openly he would go to Clyro Hill."
Alinor stared straight out across the hall while her frightened retainer described how he had been turned away from Clyro Keep.
"I did not know what to do, lady. I was of one mind to ride at once for Monmouth, but then I bethought me that Clyro is not a step, even from Monmouth, so I went round about asking for who had seen Lord Ian and his troop. Lady, lady, they are gone like smoke. From Powys to Clyro Hill they were seen. East, west, and south, no man had sight or sound of their passing."
"Then they are inside Clyro Keep," Alinor said in a hard voice. "Men do not fade into the air like smoke." For a moment she sat silent, mastering the turmoil of rage and terror and regret that tore her. If Ian was dead, she would never be able to mend the breach she had opened between them. He would have died believing she did not love him. She closed her eyes, but the image of the pain in his face when she would not answer to his rage could not be shut out. Dead? What would she do if Ian were dead? Alinor drew a deep breath. One thing was sure. She would not sit here and weep. First she would take Clyro Keep down, stone by stone, and take

 
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